If you remember, as I do, (vaguely!) the Second World War and some of its many privations, you will be very interested to read Barbara Kelland’s book. She tells us of her childhood through the 30s and 40s, a large part of this time spent boarding at the Royal Masonic Schools for Girls.
In spite of experiencing life “In the Trenches” each night, and food consisting mainly of dry bread and jam, laughter and happiness shine through. The pranks the girls played on each other and the staff, the wartime concerts they presented, knocking the chestnuts off the trees in the beautiful grounds of the school, what fun they had!
Barbara also pays tribute to her Mother who had sadly lost her husband before Barbara was born. Mrs Kelland coped courageously throughout these years, especially during the many difficulties of the war.
There is also some very interesting information recorded about the Founder and the history of the Masonic Schools and of Freemasonry, all of which add to the enjoyment of this book.
A reader from Wiltshire
What comes home pretty starkly to us is the effect the war had on the way every domestic activity was affected. Indeed is still affected today.
Our shared impression is that the work is a tour de force of scholarship as well as giving great pleasure to the reader and to those like us, reviving memories of days long passed.
Congratulations for a job well done and a real contribution to social history.
Readers from Wiltshire
